Dialogue Session Discusses Role of Parks in Improving Quality of Life in Omani Cities
Muscat, 9 Oct (ONA) --- As part of the events of an exhibition and conference co-themed “Home and Building Expo ”, a dialogue session was held today about the role of parks in developing cities and improving the quality of life.
The events, which took place at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat, saw the participation of directors-general of municipalities from different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
During the panel discussion, the participants exchanged views about the importance of integrating parks into urban planning, with the objective of diminishing pollution, improving public health and fostering social solidarity.
The session also reviewed the challenges facing municipalities in allocating land within densely populated cities, ways to achieve a balance between urban expansion and the preservation of green spaces and successful projects in the governorates to optimize the use of urban landscape.
The session touched on a number of related topics related to: Enhancing identity in garden design by highlighting the governorates’ geographical and environmental diversity; using local plants to promote environmental sustainability; cutting down water consumption; and leveraging local terrain and climate to design to grant gardens a distinct character in each region (coastal, mountainous or desert environments).
The session also addressed the latest practices in smart irrigation, energy-efficient lighting and digital maintenance systems. It also elaborated on the importance of digital surveyance of the performance of parks to ensure their sustainability, as well as future plans to expand the scope of smart green spaces in Omani cities.
The participants expressed the common view that parks can serve as tourist attractions and open centres for community interactions that boost the activation of social life and the development of environmental awareness. They called for measures to establish partnerships between the private sector and the local community to develop efficient practices in maintaining parks and utilize them as spaces for cultural, sporting and recreational activities.
--- Ends/Bishara/AG
